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Ep 2. Backpacks, Beaches, and Becoming: Finding Myself Through Rites of Passage

Hey everyone, welcome back to Parents & Teens Rising!

In this episode, I’m taking you on a journey through my own story, from my messy and confusing high school years, to the wilderness rites of passage that cracked me wide open, to the hikes, the challenges, the discoveries, and the transformation that eventually led me to the work I do today with teens and parents.

I’m sharing the parts of my story I’ve never fully told before, the years of searching, the moments of profound connection in nature, and the experiences that shaped my understanding of identity, belonging, mentorship, and resilience.

If you’re parenting a teen right now, especially one who feels lost, disconnected, or unsure of who they are, I hope my journey will give you not just inspiration, but also practical insights into how you can support your teen during these formative years.

Grab Your Free Resource! 🌿

If you rate and review the podcast and send me a screenshot, I’ll send you my free guide:

“10 Steps to Building a Stronger Connection with Your Teen.”

Inside this guide, I share powerful strategies to help you reignite connection from the ground up, starting with how you show up, instead of trying to change your teen.

📩 Send me your screenshot via DM:

Ready to Work Together?

If you’re parenting a teen who’s struggling with anxiety, self-esteem, motivation, or communication, there are a few ways I can support you:

🌿 Rise Up & Ignite Coaching Programs for Teens & Young Adults (12-24)

🌿Rooted in Connection Coaching Program for Parents of Teens
🌿 Wilderness Rites of Passage Trips for Youth

🌿 Youth Connect- In person Teen Groups in Ashland, OR

🔗 Explore all coaching and programs

Let’s Stay Connected!

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Image of Guided Passages Founder Jasmyne Chandler next to the question, "Want a better connection with your teen?"
Access Now

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Kerrick Gooden

Guide

Kerrick was raised in the Hill Country of Austin, Texas where he studied at the University of Texas. After some travel, he moved to the Rogue Valley of Oregon with a vision to farm and support youth. He completed his Bachelor’s of Science in Applied Cultural Anthropology with Honors in 2004 at Southern Oregon University, and devoted over a decade supporting youth and their families navigate  local and state social service programs. During this time, he and his partner cultivated a food forest at their home and founded Verdant Phoenix as an educational mini-farm in 2016.

Verdant Phoenix Farm became an expression of a way of life for Kerrick. He is interested in the relationships between humans, soil, microbes, plants/trees/shrubs, food, culture, time, and the web of life. As these elements inform his horticultural practice, Kerrick enjoys supporting landscapes, gardens, farms, and their people who are interested in belonging to the land.